Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS)
Status: No national drinking water standard exists
Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) is a member of a group of perfluorinated chemicals used in many consumer products. PFOS and other perfluorinated chemicals can cause serious health effects, including cancer, endocrine disruption, accelerated puberty, liver and immune system damage, and thyroid changes. These chemicals are persistent in the environment and they accumulate in people. Click here to read more about perfluorinated chemicals.
2012-2017:
12
states detected
40
utilities detected
862,000
people served
10
states over health guideline
30
utilities over health guideline
515,000
people served over health guideline
Health concerns for perfluorobutane sulfonate
Cancer
Harm to the immune system
Hormone disruption
Harm to fetal growth and child development
Harm to the liver
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
EWG Health Guideline 1 ppt
The EWG Health Guideline of 1 ppt for perfluorobutane sulfonate was defined by EWG based on studies by Phillipe Grandjean of Harvard University and many other independent researchers who found reduced effectiveness of vaccines and adverse impacts on mammary gland development from exposure to PFOA and PFOS, the two PFAS most widely detected in drinking water. This health guideline applies to the entire class of PFAS detected in water.
ppt = parts per trillion
States reporting perfluorobutane sulfonate in drinking water
UTILITIES REPORTING ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES | UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
State | Utilities | People Served | Utilities | People Served | |||
Wisconsin | 0 | 0 | 5 | 238,297 | |||
Georgia | 7 | 202,596 | 7 | 202,596 | |||
Massachusetts | 5 | 98,211 | 6 | 140,211 | |||
Alabama | 6 | 65,727 | 6 | 65,727 | |||
California | 0 | 0 | 2 | 40,900 | |||
Michigan | 1 | 40,891 | 1 | 40,891 | |||
Minnesota | 1 | 33,930 | 1 | 33,930 | |||
New Hampshire | 3 | 5,619 | 5 | 31,574 | |||
Pennsylvania | 1 | 25,000 | 1 | 25,000 | |||
Washington | 1 | 22,926 | 1 | 22,926 | |||
Colorado | 1 | 19,000 | 1 | 19,000 | |||
Rhode Island | 4 | 904 | 4 | 904 |
Filtering technologies that reduce perfluorobutane sulfonate

Activated Carbon

Reverse Osmosis
Utilities with the highest amounts of perfluorobutane sulfonate, 2012-2017
Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
---|---|---|---|---|
Devens Massdevelopment* | Devens, MA | 4 of 8 | 4,675.0 ppt | 6,500 |
Hudson Water Supply | Hudson, MA | 6 of 12 | 1,783.3 ppt | 18,954 |
Mashpee Water District* | Mashpee, MA | 1 of 16 | 750.0 ppt | 34,257 |
Hyannis Water System | Hyannis, MA | 2 of 19 | 442.1 ppt | 35,000 |
Rome* | Rome, GA | 4 of 4 | 240.0 ppt | 45,586 |
Calhoun* | Calhoun, GA | 4 of 8 | 135.0 ppt | 49,088 |
Talking Rock Creek Properties | Chatsworth, GA | 4 of 8 | 135.0 ppt | 270 |
Cottage Grove | Cottage Grove, MN | 27 of 106 | 30.0 ppt | 33,930 |
Rainbow City Utilities Board* | Rainbow City, AL | 1 of 4 | 25.0 ppt | 11,748 |
Security Waster District | Colorado Springs, CO | 4 of 38 | 11.6 ppt | 19,000 |
Cedar Bluff Utilities Board | Cedar Bluff, AL | 2 of 26 | 10.8 ppt | 3,858 |
Northeast Alabama Water System* | Fort Payne, AL | 2 of 26 | 10.8 ppt | 42,609 |
Dalton Utilities* | Dalton, GA | 1 of 12 | 10.00 ppt | 99,315 |
Windham Terrace | Merrimack, NH | 1 of 1 | 6.00 ppt | 110 |
Issaquah Water System | Issaquah, WA | 1 of 9 | 4.16 ppt | 22,926 |
Ladd Center Water System* | North Kingstown, RI | 1 of 2 | 3.37 ppt | 129 |
Exeter Job Corps Center | Providence, RI | 1 of 2 | 3.37 ppt | 300 |
Holiday Acres | Allenstown, NH | 1 of 3 | 3.30 ppt | 309 |
Pembroke Water Works* | Pembroke, NH | 1 of 3 | 3.30 ppt | 5,200 |
Horsham Water&sewer Authority* | Horsham, PA | 1 of 34 | 3.24 ppt | 25,000 |
Oakland Association Inc. | Oakland, RI | 2 of 5 | 1.90 ppt | 175 |
Quonochontaug East Beach Water Association | Charlestown, RI | 1 of 3 | 1.89 ppt | 300 |
Plainfield Township | Grand Rapids, MI | 1 of 5 | 1.08 ppt | 40,891 |
Sierra Army Depot | Herlong, CA | 1 of 6 | 0.667 ppt | 1,500 |
Cabot Preserve | Merrimack, NH | 19 of 242 | 0.412 ppt | 955 |
Merrimack Village District* | Merrimack, NH | 19 of 242 | 0.412 ppt | 25,000 |
Camp Pendleton (South) | Camp Pendleton, CA | 2 of 91 | 0.397 ppt | 39,400 |
Westfield Water Department | Westfield, MA | 1 of 13 | 0.327 ppt | 42,000 |
Madison Water Utility* | Madison, WI | 3 of 51 | 0.133 ppt | 235,000 |
Maple Bluff Waterworks | Madison, WI | 3 of 51 | 0.133 ppt | 1,342 |
Shorewood Hills Waterworks | Madison, WI | 3 of 51 | 0.133 ppt | 1,670 |
Rimrock Road Neighborhood | Fitchburg, WI | 3 of 51 | 0.133 ppt | 135 |
Danville Drive Service Area | Fitchburg, WI | 3 of 51 | 0.133 ppt | 150 |
* This water utility supplies finished drinking water to at least one other water utility. The purchasing utility is not required to test for or report Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS), but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.
Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
---|---|---|---|---|
Hudson Water Supply | Hudson, MA | 6 of 12 | 1,783.3 ppt | 18,954 |
Mashpee Water District* | Mashpee, MA | 1 of 16 | 750.0 ppt | 34,257 |
Hyannis Water System | Hyannis, MA | 2 of 19 | 442.1 ppt | 35,000 |
Rome* | Rome, GA | 4 of 4 | 240.0 ppt | 45,586 |
Calhoun* | Calhoun, GA | 4 of 8 | 135.0 ppt | 49,088 |
Cottage Grove | Cottage Grove, MN | 27 of 106 | 30.0 ppt | 33,930 |
Rainbow City Utilities Board* | Rainbow City, AL | 1 of 4 | 25.0 ppt | 11,748 |
Security Waster District | Colorado Springs, CO | 4 of 38 | 11.6 ppt | 19,000 |
Northeast Alabama Water System* | Fort Payne, AL | 2 of 26 | 10.8 ppt | 42,609 |
Dalton Utilities* | Dalton, GA | 1 of 12 | 10.00 ppt | 99,315 |
Issaquah Water System | Issaquah, WA | 1 of 9 | 4.16 ppt | 22,926 |
Horsham Water&sewer Authority* | Horsham, PA | 1 of 34 | 3.24 ppt | 25,000 |
Plainfield Township | Grand Rapids, MI | 1 of 5 | 1.08 ppt | 40,891 |
Merrimack Village District* | Merrimack, NH | 19 of 242 | 0.412 ppt | 25,000 |
Camp Pendleton (South) | Camp Pendleton, CA | 2 of 91 | 0.397 ppt | 39,400 |
Westfield Water Department | Westfield, MA | 1 of 13 | 0.327 ppt | 42,000 |
Madison Water Utility* | Madison, WI | 3 of 51 | 0.133 ppt | 235,000 |
* This water utility supplies finished drinking water to at least one other water utility. The purchasing utility is not required to test for or report Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS), but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.